Projects NEW BUILD-OTIE'S AUTOMOTIVE B/A FIAT TOPOLINO TRIBUTE

Got an awesome gift yesterday, Otie's toolbox that he used from the mid 50's until they quit racing in 72. Only contents are some leftover 392 parts from their dragsters and an old Isky Cam ID plate. The participant decal is from Indy 66, the first year for their Top Gas Dragster and the gold decal is from Akron Speed Shop where Otie got his start with hot rods before opening his own shop.

 

Damn that's cool.

 

^^^^^ What Jim said!!! ^^^^^

 

Our first 8 second pass! 8.81 @151 this past Friday at Rock n Race, Dragway 42.

 

Is that Johns Comet racing you??
Man that Topolino kicks ass.

 

Thanks, just keeps getting quicker. Yes, that's John.

 

Great milestone congrats.

 

Nice clean, fast pass. Congrats, looking good!

 

You would have been wise to let me know you were going to make a pass.

 

Saw your pass, car is really running well, we had fun pitting next to all the altereds ,we got two passes in before mother nature rained on our show

 

Upgrade complete! I never imagined I'd be more worried about stopping than going when I started this project, but my last pass got a little squirrely in the shut down. My stock 59 Olds drum brakes worked great at 130, but at 150, they faded out, disappeared and turned blue. Added a hand brake and 2nd master cylinder, 2-calipers on the foot brake and 2 on the hand brake. Now I have a back up and hand brake to practice with for the next car that will hopefully have a clutch.

 

Good move.

 

Found this is it an Otie's car or just a sponsor?

 

That is Otie's gas dragster.

 

That picture is the cover shot of NOV, 66 Drag Racing magazine. That's the first of the three Woody Gilmore Top Gas Dragsters they campaigned from 66-72. Larry Pettit brought that chassis back from California on top of his station wagon and talked Otie into becoming his partner. It was originally driven by Larry, but they didn't get along. Otie's son Bill tells me a story of Otie pulling the whole rig over on the side of the highway after a meet at Lions, sounds like punches were almost thrown. Otie bought larry out and Bill took over driving duties when, as he puts it "came home from playing war". Unfortunately Larry just passed away about 2- weeks ago.

 

Sad news RIP.

 

Found another real old shot of the roadster

 

NHRA Nationals Oklahoma City 58


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

Picked up a nice gift today from the estate of a former Akron Cam Jammers car club member Sid Rains.
These front wheels and tires were on Otie Smiths 1959 and 1960 Nationals winning altereds.
Sid lived behind Otie and purchased the chassis from the 1959 car, Otie built a new car for 1960, crashed it at Dragway 42 and bent the front axle. Otie borrowed the 59 front axle and wheels back from Sid to make it to the 60 Nationals and returned them afterwards. This is all that’s left, Sid's dad scrapped the chassis when he left for the USMC.

 

RIP Billy, my friend of 30 years has gone to that big dragstrip in the sky. I will truly miss the hours we spent talking and you sharing stories of racings past, the hours you spent with me and my friends in the garage, at the shows and racetrack. We all loved listing to your stories and the knowledge you shared with us to recreate the first car you ever raced, we're grateful for all the time we got spend with you. I'm having such a hard time writing this , as Bill would say "Weld it to the truck!"

 

Sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, that era of folks is all getting to that age. Dad turns 85 this month and all of his old drag racing buddies are dropping like flies. It bums me out to think about it.

 

I’ve never met Billy, but have been following your excerpts for many years as my good friends John Denslow and Rob Gaynor helped along the way.
My sincerest condolences to his friends and family. Rick.